Studies in Ancient Hindu Polity (Based on the Arthashastra of Kautilya), Vol. I c9.s2.35

c9.s2.35

It is apparent from the above that intercourse was established in that ancient time between the empire of Chandra Gupta and very distant places. That foreign merchants used to come to his empire and that commerce was carried on with distant countries are evident from references made to them in several passages under the names of पारविषयिकाः,² सामुद्राः,³ सार्थवाणपाणि,⁴ and also by the use of such expressions as “देशकालात्तराणां तु पण्यानां,”⁵ etc. Lastly, in the chapter entitled कोशप्रवेश-रत्नपरीक्षा in Book II, among other things it is mentioned that कालेयक, a kind of sandal, came from स्वर्णभूमि, i.e. Burma; चीनभूमिजाः चीनपट्टाः, fabrics of Chinese manufacture, came from that distant country; and gems of various kinds, as well as अगुरु (the fragrant Aloe-wood) of several sorts, came from Ceylon (पारसमुद्र).¹ There are mentioned many other names of distant countries the products of which were brought into the empire by the means of intercourse that were established, but those already quoted are sufficient for our purpose.